Flush lock



Aug. 26, 1941. G. R. ADAMS 2,253,547

FLUSH LOCK Filed Dec. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5)/ fry AU8- 26, 1941- G. R. ADAMS* 2,253,547

FLUSH LOCK Filed Dec. 4, 1940 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 65'" [p p U 67/ S Patented Aug. 26, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUSH LOCK George R. Adams, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 4, 1940, Serial No. 368,474

(Cl. 'l0- 208) 7 Claims.

My invention relates to a flush lock and has for its principal object, to provide a relatively simple, practical, and highly ecient lock that is particularly applicable for use wherever it is necessary or desirable to arrange the lock so that its outer face is flush with the outer face of the door or other structure in which the lock is seated, for instance, the doors of airplanes, motor vehicles, and the like.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a flush lock with simple means, under control of a manually operable swinging plate arranged on the external face of the lock for engaging and positively holding the locking bolt against retractile movement and to associate with the locking bolt and said holding means, a trip bar that is actuated by engagement with the strike that is engaged by the locking bolt when the door is closed and the actuation of which trip bar is effective in releasing the holding means for the bolt.

A further object of my invention is, to provide a liush lock of the character referred to having key operated means for positively locking the door to which the lock is applied and the lock structure including simple means operable from the inside of the door for enabling the door to be opened from the inside, even though the key operated locking means has been actuated from the outside of the door to lock the latter when closed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features f construction and arrangement of parts that will .e hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view looking against the outer face of the lock as the same appears when properly applied to a door.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view looking against the rear side of the lock.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line A 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on means for normally holding said bolt against retractile movement.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view looking against the outside face of a modified form of the lock.

Fig. l0 is an elevational view looking against the inside of the modified form of lock.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken approximately on the line II-II of Fig, 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross section taken on the line I2I2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a Vertical cross section taken on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the outer end of the locking bolt.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings and particularly to the form of lock illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, I0 designates a plate that forms the outside wall of the lock, which plate is suitably mounted in a door with the outer sheet metal sheathing II of the door overlying the marginal portions of said plate.

Formed in the central portion of plate I0 is an opening I2, preferably rectangular in shape, and formed integral with the plate above and below and in front of said opening are walls I3 that enclose certain parts of the lock operating mechanism. A portion of the plate IU to the rear of the upper'and lower walls I3 and between the rear ends oi said upper and lower walls, is extended rearwardly to form a substantially semi-circular cup I4 and the chamber I5 within this cup-shaped portion is open on the outside of the plate in order to permit the insertion of the lingers that are utilized in manipulating the plate that is actuated when the door is opened.

This plate designated by the numeral I8 is preferably rectangular in shape and a. portion thereof normally closes the opening I2 in plate I Il and a portion of the rear end of said plate projects into the chamber I5 in order that it may be conveniently engaged by the ngers utilized in retracting the bolt of the lock when the door is to be opened.

Formed integral with the face of the plate I6 near its top, bottom, and center, are inwardly projecting lugs I1 and passing therethrough is a hinge pin I8, the ends of which are journalled in the walls I3 that are positioned above and below opening I2. Positioned on the upper p0rtion of the hinge pin I8 is a torsional spring I9, the upper end of which bears against the inner face of plate I0 and the lower end of which is extended upwardly a short distance and bears against the central portion of the inner face of plate I6, thus normally positioning said plate so as to close the opening I2.

Rigidly fixed on the lower portion of hinge pin I8 is a horizontally disposed plate 20, the end of which adjacent fthe hinge pin I8 bears directly agairst the inner face of plate I6. Mounted on the lower DOrtion of the hinge pin I8 between the intermediate one of the lugs I1 and plate 20 is a torsional spring 2 I, one end of which bears against the inner face of plate I and the other end thereof bearing against a stud 22 that is seated in plate 20 a short distance rearwardly from the hinge pin. This spring normally maintains plate in position with its end adjacent the hinge pin I8 against the inner face oi' the plate I6.

Seated in plate 20 adjacent the end opposite the end that bears against plate I6 is a pin 23 that occupies a slot 24, the latter being formed in the inner end of a short arm 25, said arm projecting througlra horizontally disposed slot 26 that is formed in the sheet metal 21 that forms the inner wall of the door. A plate 28 is secured to the end of the arm that projects"through slot 26, said plate being positioned directly against the inner wall 21 of the door structure and being provided with ailnger piece 29 that may be engaged from the inside of the door to retract the bolt of the lock from the inside in the event that the door has been locked from the exterior thereof.

Formed integral with or ilxed to the end of plate I0 that is positioned at the edge of the door and on the inside of said plate I0 is a plate 30 disposed at right angles to said plate I0 and arranged to slide through an opening 3I that is formed in said plate is a bolt 32 having an inclined outer end face that is adapted to engage a conventional strike on the door lamb when the door is closed.

Secured to the lower portion of the inner end of bolt 32 is one end of a -horizontally disposed pin 33, the outer end portion of which is arranged for sliding movement through an aperture that is formed in the wall I3 that occupies a. vertical position at the end of the opening I2. Positioned upon this pin between the inner end of bolt 32 and the vertical end wall I3 is an expansive spring `34 that yieldingly maintains the bolt in its normal projected position.

Formed in the upper portion of the bolt 32 is a horizontally disposed slot 35 in which is arranged for sliding movement a horizontally disposed plate 36 that is formed on one end of a trip bar 31. The outer end of plate 36 is curved outwardly as designated by 38 so that a portionv of said plate normally projects a slight distance beyond the inclined face of the bolt 32.

Formed -in plate 36 is a short slot 36a through which passes a pin 36D that is seated in the bolt, thus permitting the trip bar to move a short distance lengthwise independently of the bolt before the latter is engaged and moved lengthwise with said trip bar and which action takes place when the bolt is retracted to permit the door to be opened.

Seated in the end of the trip bar 31 opposite the end provided with plate 36 is a pin or screw 33 that passes through a short slot 40 that is formed in plate 20, thereby providing a exible connection between the trip bar and said plate. Formed integral with the intermediate portion of the trip bar and on the upper face thereof is a lug 4I.

The means utilized for normally holding the projecting arm 49.

bolt 32 against inward movement comprises an arm 42, one end of which is pivotally mounted on a stud 43 that projects from the central portion of the inner face of the cup-shaped member I4. Arranged upon stud 43 is the coiled portion of a torsional spring 44, one end of which is secured to the upper one of the walls I3 and the other end overlying the top of arm 42 so as to yieldingly resist upward swinging movement of said arm.

Formed on the under side of arm 42 adjacent its free end is a shoulder 45 that normally engages against the inner end face 0I bolt 32 so as to hold the same against inward movement and formed on the under side of the central portion of the arm 42 is a lug 46 that normally occupies a position immediately to the rear of lug 4I on trip bar 31.

Removably seated in plate I0 between the vertical one of the plates I3 and the end plate 30 is the cylinder 41 of a conventional lock of the type having a plurality of pins controlled by a key 48 and mounted on the inner end of the rotating cylinder of this lock is a short upwardly Projecting rearwardly from front plate I0 below the lock 41 is a pin 50 on which is mounted for rotation the lower portion of a vertically disposed arm 5I and seated in and projecting forwardly from the upper portion of -this arm in the path of travel of the arm 49 that is carried by the lock cylinder is a pin 52.

The lower end of arm 5I is pivotally connected by means of a pin or rivet 53 to the intermediate portion of a horizontally disposed locking pin 54 that is arranged for sliding movement through a bracket 55 that is formed on the inner face oi.' plate I0 and through the vertically disposed one of the walls I3.

Under normal conditions or while the door is unlocked, pin 54 occupies the position as illustrated in Fig. 5, with its right hand end positioned in the vertical wall I3 and when the door is locked the pin is moved toward the right hand until its right hand end portion projects through the vertical wall I3 and engages in a notch 55a that is formed in a lug 56 on the ixmer face of hinged plate I6.

When pin 54 is thus positioned behind plate I3, the latter can not be swung upon its axis and therefore the bolt 32 of the lock can not be withdrawn from its strike to permit the door ,to be opened from the outside.

To yieldingly retain the pin 54 at the ends of its longitudinal movement, the irmer end of the pin or-rivet 53 is provided with a head 51 that is substantially wedge-shape in horizontal section and which head is adapted to engage on opposite sides oi.' a vertically disposed rib 53 that is formed on the intermediate portion of a horizontally disposed retaining flnger 53 of resilient metal, one end of which is suitably secured to the vertical one of the walls I3.

When the door to which my improved lock is applied is unlocked, the parts of the lock occupy the positions as illustrated in the drawings with the pin 54 at the lei't hand end of its travel and with the bolt in projected position so as to engage in the strike on the door Jamb. To open the door, the end of plate I6 that projects into the pocket or recess I5 is engaged by the fingers and said end is pulled outwardly to the position indicated by dotted lines a in Fig. 3, thus swinging said plate upon its axis, the pin I8, and said plate pressing against the end of plate 20 will swing the same upon its axis, the pin I8. As such nally, thereby causing lug 4I to enBaZe-lug, 46 on the under side of arm 42, thereby elevating the free end of said arm so as to disengaged shoulder 45 from the rear face of`bolt 32.

'I'he initial movement imparted to trip bar- 31 by the swinging plate 20 does not impart correspending movement to the bolt 32 due to the pin and slot connection between plate 36 of the-trip bar and the bolt 32, vbut when the end of the'slot 36a engages pin 36h in the bo1t, the latter will be retracted and thereby withdrawn from the strike on the door jamb and consequently enabling the door to be opened.

As the plate I6 is released, bolt 32, trip bar 31, and plate 23, will return to their normal positions under the influence of the springs 34, I9, and 2i, and arm 42 will return to its normal position to engage and hold the bolt 32 against retractile movement by spring 44.

In the drawings, the lock is shown in unlocked condition with pin 54 at its limit of movement toward the end plate 30 and with the arm 49 carried by the rotating member of the lock 41 positioned against one side of pin 52.

To place the lock in a locked condition so as to prevent the plate I6 from Ibeing swung on its axis vto actuate the parts that retractthe'bolt 32, the key 48 is inserted in lock 41 and the rotary member therein that carries arm 49 is rotated y approximately one complete turn so that said arm engages on the opposite side of pin 52' and moves the same a short distance to swing arm I on its axis, the pin 50, and as the lower endof Lsaid arm is connected to pin 54 the latter will be moved so that -the end Iportion that passes through the vertical end wall I3 will be projected intothe recess 55a of lug 56 that iscarried by the inner face of vplate I6 and consequently prevent ing said plate from" being swung on its axis, the

the plate the latter will be. swung on its axis, the hinge pin I8, so as to actuate trip bar 31 and arm 42 to withdraw the projecting end of 'bolt 3 2 from the strike on the door jamb.

When the lock 41 is actuated by means of the key to swing arm 5I on its-axis, the head 51 of the pin or rivet that connects the lower end of arm 5I to pin 54 will ride from one side of the rib 58 on resilient finger 59 to the other and thus, the arm 5I is yieldingly heldvat -both ends of its swinging movement. v In the construction heretofore described, one end of the plate I6. is engaged and drawn outwardly away from the lock housing in order to impart retractile movement to the bolt 'of the lock, whereas in the modified constructionA the corresponding plate is constructed and mounted ing four walls 66 and' which housing surrounds `an opening 61 that isformed in plate 65. A push plate 68 normally closes the opening 61, said push.

plate being hinged to avertically disposed pin 69 having its ends seated in the top and bottom the plate 68 'and swing the same inward as indiand the inward movement ofplate 68 being yield-- `ingly resistedby a spring lthat corresponds with spring I9 in the construction previously '5 described.I

Secured to pin 69 is a plate 1I similar to'pla-te 28 previously described and extending from this last mentioned plate outwardly throughs, rear or inner wall 12 that is secured `to the housing lil comprising the walls'66 is a short arm13 that l5 the opposite or outer end of which trip bar. passes throughva bolt 16 that corresponds with previi ously describedbolt 32. Aspring held arm 11 is pivotally connected at one end to one of the walls of the housing 66 and the opposite end of 20 said arm nonnallyfengages bolt 16 to hold it against vretracidle movement.

This modified formpf the lock is fitted with a key operated lock 13 that corresponds with the lock 41 and said lock being adapted to actuate an arm 19 that corresponds with arm 5I for actuating a bolt 80 that lcorresponds with bolt 54 and which, when moved s o that a portion extends into the cham-ber within the housing 66, prevents the plate 68 from being swung inwardly to withdraw bolt 16.

I Pin 52 is extended rearwardly through a slot 52a in the lining 21 in order to enable arm 5I to be swung on its axis, the stud 50, so as`to shift rod 54 into position to free the plate I6, thus 5, unlockingthe key actuated lock-from the inside of the door;

' 'I'heconstruction of the modified form of lock illustrated-in Figs. 9 to liV inclusive is substantially the same as lthe construction heretofore described, with the exception lof the swinging plate that is engaged and actuated by the fingers for effecting the release of the bolt.

To actuate this form of lock, it is only necessary to apply pressure to the external face of cated by dotted lines b, Fig. 11, with the pin 69 functioningas an axis to withdraw theA bolt 16 from its strike and thereby `permitting the door i to be opened.

When bolt 80 is actuated to project one end thereof into the housing 66' and which movement follows operation of the key actuated losck 18, it

is impossible to swing plate 68 -on its axis to retract the lbolt 16, but the-bolt may be retracted ,m to mount the lock in the jamb or framevof the door and where such construction is employed, the strike that is engaged by andwhich receives the bolt y32 is mounted onv the edge of the door. 'I'hus it will be seen that I have provided a flush 5' lock that uis relatively simple inlconstruction,

inexpensive of manufacture and vvery effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, formand construction of lthe vvarious parts of my improved flush lock, may be-made and substituted for those -herein shown and 7'5 the appended claims.

walls of the housing on the rear side oi' the platef I claim as my invention:

1. In a flush lock, a plate provided with an opening, a second plate hinged to the rst mentioned plate for normally closing said opening, a Wall at the'end of the first mentioned plate, a spring held bolt arranged for sliding movement through said wall, means normally engaging said bolt for holding the same against retractile movement, a third plate hinged to the rst mentioned plate and normally bearing against the inner face of the plate that closes the opening in said first mentioned plate, a trip bar extending through said bolt and pivotally connected to the third mentioned plate and means on said trip bar for disengaging the holding means from said bolt as the latter and said trip bar are moved longitudinally as a result of contact with a strike that receives the bolt when in projected position.

2. A iiush lock as set forth in claim 1 and with manually operable means connected to said third mentioned plate for imparting retractile movement to said bolt and trip bar.

3. A ilush lock as set forth in claim 1, with key operated means for locking the plate that closes the opening in the ilrst mentioned plate' against inward swinging movement and manualtioned plate for imparting retractile movement to said bolt and trip bar.

4. In a flush lock, a face plate provided with an opening, a housing formed on" the rear side of said face plate around the opening therein, there being an externally arranged recess formed in said face plate at one end of said housing and said opening, a member hinged to said housing and normally closing the opening in said face plate, a portion of which hinged platew extends into the recess in said face plate, a horizontally disposed plate hinged within the housing, one end of which last mentioned plate bears against the rear face of the plate that closes the opening in the face plate, a wall secured to one end of said face plate on the rear side thereof, a bolt .arranged for sliding movement through said wall,

a trip bar associated with said bolt and pivotally connected to said hinged horizontally disposed plate, a spring held arm for normally engaging said bolt and holding same against retractile movement and means on said trip bar for engaging and actuating said arm to release said bolt at the beginning oi retractile movement im parted thereto.

5. A flush block as set forth in claim 4 and with manually operable means on the rear side of the lock for actuating the plate that bears against the inner face of the plate that closes the opening in said face plate and for imparting retractile movement tosald bolt and trip bar.

6. In a ilush lock, a housing including a Aface plate.and an end plate, a spring pressed bolt 'arranged for sliding movement through the end plate oi' the housing, a spring pressed arm pivoted at one end within the housing, the other end normally engaging the bolt to hold the same against movement into the housing, a trip bar having one end arranged for sliding movement through the bolt, a pin and slot connection between said trip bar and bolt, means on the trip bar for engaging and lifting the arm that normally holds the bolt against inward movement and manually operable means operable from the exterior of the face plate of the housing for im parting longitudinal movement to said trip bar.

7. In a flush lock, a housing including a. face plate and an end plate, a spring heldbolt arranged for sliding movement through the end plate, the outer end of said bolt having an' inclined free, a trip bar having an end portionarranged for sliding movement lengthwise through said bolt, the outer end of the portion of said trip bar that slides through said bolt being curved and normally occupying a position beyond the inclined end of the bolt, a pin and slot connection between said trip bar and bolt, an arm pivoted within the housing and normally vengaging said bolt to hold the same against retractile movement, means on the trip bar for disengaging said arm from said bolt as said trip bar moves longitudinally within the housing and means op erable from the exterior of the face plate for imparting longitudinal movement vto said trip a bar.

GEORGE R., ADAMS. 

